What degree do you need to be a daycare owner?

Prospective daycare owners who are planning to earn their bachelor's degrees should take courses that will help prepare them to run this type of business, including education, wellness, psychology, and business classes. Introductory-level undergraduate courses in birth through kindergarten education, for example, will give you an overview of learning theories and styles, as well as expected developmental milestones. While courses that focus on infant/toddler or preschool-aged development will give you a more detailed look at each age group.

There are also additional things to take into consideration. One, your state may require that you and any staff you hire are CPR-certified, for one. Another thing to take into consideration is having first-aid training certifications such as First aid CPR certification, Early Childhood Education (ECE) certification, Advanced child care training, and water safety. Moreover, most states require all daycare workers to be fingerprinted and undergo background checks before being cleared for work.

Even if your state doesn't require that you obtain a license, prospective daycare owners should consider doing so, as your licensing course will go over all the boxes you need to check to operate your daycare in your state -- including health and safety regulations, proper food preparation and the required child-to-adult ratio.